Ch.238Glacier Canyon (1)

“Defense impossible. Incineration proto….”

I opened my jaw wide and bit the Screamer’s head hard. Having lost its command center, its body slumped down helplessly.

‘It’s over.’

There were so many of them that it took quite some time to catch them all. Around me were the remains of half-melted metal skeletons. Black slime was busily dissolving them, converting them into nutrients.

‘Should I check the other areas too?’

Though unlikely, the kids might have missed some by mistake.

I swallowed the Screamer head in my mouth and linked with the nest.

My senses spread throughout the cave, detecting movements across the black slime. Multiple creatures were moving around, but none of them were Screamers.

‘No Gallergorn died in the battle.’

Zero losses on our side. That was good news, especially considering many Gallergorn had already died.

Two of the victorious ones are coming this way. I released the link and waited. Soon, No. 26 and PS-111 appeared from the back of the passage.

“Flap flap, I punished the bad friends who were mean to the babies.”

[Zzzzzz (Well done)]

Honestly, I was slightly worried that No. 26 might hesitate, but that was needless concern.

After seeing Adhigh grieve for the lost Gallergorn, it showed no mercy to the Screamers. The energy supplied through human sacrifice increased explosively whenever it confronted the Screamers.

PS-111 also showed decent skills. Perhaps it was because it had fought alongside Adhigh and the Gallergorn several times. They took turns acting as decoys, effectively confusing the enemy.

“Where did the little baby go?”

“It went to protect the Gallergorn hatchlings.”

As it said, Adhigh went to check on the hidden hatchlings instead of returning. Thanks to my link with the nest, I knew the hidden Blue Gallergorn were safe, but Adhigh didn’t know that.

‘It must be worried since many Gallergorn died.’

We won without casualties, but it was a battle where losses outweighed gains. Before I returned, many had been killed by them.

‘Let’s leave it alone for now.’

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzz (Adhigh needs time)]

“Yes.”

No. 26, having also lost its kind to Megacorps, didn’t say anything more. It seemed to think that time was needed as well.

To change the subject and confirm something important, I called PS-111.

“How did what I asked about go?”

“As you ordered, I rebooted the systems of some S-model Screamers.”

It proudly produced its creation.

‘What’s this?’

When I first met PS-111, it said that if the target was a lower-ranked S-model, limited control was possible.

At that time, it added the condition that physical contact was necessary. I didn’t expect it to be easy, but I also didn’t anticipate what I was seeing now.

‘Only the heads remain?’

Its three hands with hook-like claws were each holding a Screamer head.

Below the violently torn necks, I could see spines with small chips attached, dangling down. Seeing it holding heads with dangling spines reminded me of a character finishing a special move in a classic fighting game.

When I remained silent, it seemed to realize that this wasn’t what I wanted. It added an explanation:

“Their resistance was fierce, so this was unavoidable for subduing them.”

“Can these heads regenerate bodies like you?”

“These heads cannot.”

“Why?”

“S-models don’t have self-healing abilities. Moreover, their life support functions depend entirely on me. They would die immediately if disconnected.”

Only then did I notice that the ends of all three spines were connected to metal hoses protruding from its back.

‘I’ll just have to gather information this time.’

This wasn’t my original plan.

If it succeeded in hacking the Screamers, I was thinking of forming a legion of S-models.

‘It’s disappointing, but there’s still a chance.’

If the target can’t resist, it might be possible to control them while keeping their bodies intact. For instance, when they’re newly produced and awaiting final calibration.

“If we take control of the production system, we can achieve the results you want.”

PS-111 brought up something similar to what I was thinking.

Since the topic came up, I asked the most important question.

“Where are their ship and Pyrrha Eleven?”

“I’ll check.”

It closed its eyes to access the information. The heads it was holding began to tremble.

“Gigigigi.”

“Aaaaa.”

“Gegege.”

The Screamer heads, with only their heads remaining and eyes rolling back, emitted machine-like bit sounds. It would be a terrifying sight for a normal human, but there were no ordinary people here.

“Friend is acting strange. Why is it doing that?”

[Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzzz (It’s searching for important memories)]

“Memories? How does it search?”

No. 26 seemed curious about PS-111’s actions. While PS-111 was extracting information, I chatted with No. 26.

“Looking at memories seems fun.”

[Zz (Really?)]

“Yes. It’s like a friend becoming the same as another friend.”

[Zz zzzzzzzz (It’s a bit different)]

“Is it different?”

The one who had been depressed about Adhigh showed unexpected interest. I didn’t expect it to be interested in reading or understanding another being’s thoughts.

‘Does it think there’s something to learn from its kind?’

No. 26 has considered PS-111 as one of its kind since they first met. Perhaps it believes it can do what PS-111 can do.

‘Reading memories, huh.’

Among psychic techniques, there’s one that reads actions through traces left by others. But as far as I know, Sea Demons in the game didn’t have such characteristics.

‘Well, that’s unknown.’

Looking at Odd Grad’s case, it’s hard to think only in terms of game standards. Maybe No. 26 could gain abilities I don’t know about.

‘Though if that were the case, it would have gained them already.’

Looking at it, it seemed more like curiosity than a new ability. I could sense its desire to learn from a fellow creature using an unfamiliar ability.

‘Learning is a good thing.’

Sea Demons are very powerful creatures, but in this vast universe, there are countless threats to its life. If it follows me, it will face beings with far more terrifying powers. To survive against strong enemies, or to hunt them, one must constantly study.

Feeling proud, I patted it. While expressing joy at my touch, it didn’t stop questioning.

While we were talking, PS-111, having extracted all information from the Screamers, opened its eyes.

“I’ve confirmed the location. Pyrrha Eleven and the ship are in the same place.”

“That’s good.”

Now that we know the enemy’s location, all that’s left is to attack.

‘But first, I need to bring Sky Mother and Ham Oort.’

The dragon’s nest is so vast that I’ve spread it to its limit. The previously installed nests have automatically declined. Sky Mother went to the former nest with Ham Oort to treat him. She would understand what the disappearing nest means.

‘She’s fought me many times.’

Perhaps they’re already on their way here.

“I’ll hear the details later.”

“Understood.”

“Friend, I have a question.”

“Please ask anything.”

Leaving the two chatting enthusiastically, I headed toward the cave entrance.

Walking through the long, dark corridor, stepping on sticky slime, I began to see the entrance.

The light flowing in from outside suddenly darkened. Someone was blocking the entrance.

“Seeing you come out here, I assume the situation is already over?”

“Black kin” “Where is the daughter of the meteor?”

Speak of the devil.

I no longer needed to go looking for them.

–

An unknown planet with no recorded name or approach route.

Due to the clouds covering the atmosphere, it appeared dull gray from the outside. Recently, it had become increasingly chaotic due to the sudden appearance of external intruders.

As the clouds parted, revealing the planet’s surface, the aftermath of massive energy collisions spread throughout the planet.

The artificially generated energy storm affected not only the inside of the planet but also the outside.

“Mr. MInseok, the atmosphere has stabilized.”

“Good. Report to me when the communication lines and satellite radar are restored.”

“Yes, sir!”

In the situation room of Siheyon Yujin’s flagship, crew members were bustling about.

Due to the recent weather anomaly, communication with the planet’s interior was not smooth. It would take more than two bodies to normalize this.

Above the noisy bridge, Acting Captain MInseok Yujin was staring at the holographic planetary map with a stern expression.

On one part of the spherical map, identical to the planet, there was a red mark.

It was the place where his master, Siheyon Yujin, had led an expedition team.

‘Damn it.’

MInseok was beginning to dislike the actions of Siheyon Yujin’s clone.

The master he served had dedicated his life to establishing justice in the family. Punishing Akira Yujin, who had usurped the position of family head, and ensuring the rightful bloodline ruled the family—that was Siheyon Yujin’s purpose, everyone’s purpose here.

But this replica of Siheyon Yujin seemed more interested in other things than the great cause.

Is that all? She was deviating from the path Siheyon Yujin should walk. She should be meeting and recruiting key family figures right now, but instead, she was doing these useless things.

Currently, there’s a civil war within the Megacorp between Noble Capital T&C and Prime Capital Egerton. CEO Akira is busy mediating this. It’s the only opportunity to quickly build power without checks.

Siheyon Yujin clearly knew this fact, but instead of going to Earth, she was on this remote planet.

‘If the goal was to secure credits, I would understand…’

When the satellite radar was working, MInseok saw it.

This planet was a treasure trove of resources. It had large deposits of Nova Metal, which the Cult is crazy about, and was full of creatures with rare genes.

Utilizing these could bring in enormous credits, but Siheyon Yujin was obsessed with something else—an artifact he had never heard of or seen.

‘Ancient artifact? Nonsense.’

Most of Megacorp’s Noble Capitals own numerous planets. House Yugin is also constantly conducting planetary exploration to expand its gene pool.

Therefore, MInseok knows well that there are no secrets in this universe.

Secret weapons left by fallen empires, artifacts of ancient civilizations, treasures operating on super-scientific principles—none of these exist. They’re all elements created to deceive the ignorant masses.

Siheyon Yujin was ignoring a fact known to everyone in the Megacorp upper class.

‘…Is she defective?’

It was an extremely disrespectful thought, but MInseok was half convinced. The replica of Siheyon who went down for a futile goal is defective.

‘I’ll need to prepare measures when she returns.’

Without Siheyon Yujin’s consent, a new clone cannot be created. But excluding her is an even more serious problem. Everyone here has gathered to follow the only bloodline of Junwoo Yujin.

Then there’s only one option left.

‘I’ll have to use what he left behind.’

Before Siheyon Yujin died, concerned about potential defects in his replica, he left something. Using that could guide Siheyon’s replica back to the right path.

MInseok’s cold gaze fixed on the red mark on the holographic map.